Picoso: Budgeting Arthttp://www.picoso.net
website dedicated to frugal livingSat, 05 Aug 2017 12:47:41 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5Since it was my original requesthttp://www.picoso.net/since-it-was-my-original-request.htm
Sat, 05 Aug 2017 12:47:41 +0000http://www.picoso.net/?p=30I want to thank you guys for posting your intros. It really feels good to see all of the posts and hear everyone’s stories/tips. Hearing what others do often motivates me to look at things differently or to try something new.

Not to be too pushy but I also love to hear the frugal things that people do and if you guys don’t mind plan to post some of the little things that I do. My latest is to pull out the cloth napkins and wash them. I am going to start using them at dinner time. I will still use paper for breakfast and lunch for the time being. In addition to saving (a very little bit of) money, I think they will dress up the dinner table. I know that napkins are cheap but cloth will be free. I do a load of laundry every day so it won’t be any extra trouble.

Have a great day.

]]>I’m Shayli – a sahmhttp://www.picoso.net/im-shayli-a-sahm.htm
Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:46:36 +0000http://www.picoso.net/?p=28Married to Keith who is in Mortgage Banking.. He has the fun job of setting Mortgage Rates for a 5 state area ..*grin* Makes him a very popular man. We have 2 girls..Trisha who is 8 almost 9 and Keely who just turned 2. We are expecting again in early Feb. We have the best of all worlds Trisha came into my life before I married Keith, she has a seizure disorder and is Autistic. We adopted her together. After taking…..oh….6 or so years to get our lives settled we started on adding to our family. Keely was born..and it’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since I am an RN, who gave up full time work to raise our children. I miss the work, but do some consulting at times. I wouldn’t trade my being home with the kiddlets for the world.

We live in Maine. I was on the other CB list but basically just gathered more ideas, suggestions and laughs that are wonderful! Maine is not the best place to have …choices of where to buy groceries. There are 2 chains around here. So….that is an area we really struggle at. But….

I have the wonderful luxury of living in a very laid back place. We leave the keys in our cars, and door unlocked for the most part There are still places in this country you can still do that.

I have an almost 13 yo & almost 12 yo. We live in a community with LOTS of agriculture around, and next summer, both of our kids will have opportunities for summer jobs. Additionally, fast food restaurants around here (probably everywhere) hire kids starting at 14.

DH & I are on the same page right now, that we don’t want the kids to work, but the kiddos already think differently. DS thinks he can get a cake job tossing watermelons next summer. All he can think of is the $$$$$ (2nd oldest, and my most materialistic child). There’s a boy on his football team this year who is doing this, and he is wiped out by the time he gets to practice. Kids need an opportunity to be kids. They grow up fast enough.

PLEASE, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want my kids to start working anytime soon. I’d just as soon see them only working summers once they hit maybe their last year of high school. All of the kids are involved in sports, and other activities which suck up alot of our time…..

Anyway, since the subject came up, I’m curious to know how kids working impacts other areas of their lives. We haven’t been very good about teaching them about $ to date- they get it, they spend it. We’re working on this.

SO, I have many many issues surrounding kids and money ~ dh & I are just now learning many lessons ourselves.

Input, please…..

]]>I’ve general and local many times in my lifehttp://www.picoso.net/ive-general-and-local-many-times-in-my-life.htm
Thu, 11 May 2017 12:45:34 +0000http://www.picoso.net/?p=26I’ve general and local many times in my life – my biggest suggestion is to make sure he is drinking plenty of fluids. This should have been part of your going home instructions. The anethesia needs to be flushed out of his system and many times men forget to drink 8 glasses a day (even hard for women too).

The actual pain from the incision and the procedure itself could also be tiring him out. Think about pain from a throbbing headache but place it in your hand – not the easy thing to deal with especially the pain relievers can make you lethargic.

I think it’s a combination of factors here – If the incision does not appear to be healing properly before his next visit for after care – please contact the doctor because staff infection should not be ignored.

]]>I’m back, and…??http://www.picoso.net/im-back-and.htm
Mon, 10 Apr 2017 12:40:35 +0000http://www.picoso.net/?p=22A benevolent pal of mine sent me a keyboard middle of last week, and I have finally found the time to come off “no mail” and get back to some serious frugal actions.

I went to buy groceries Saturday and spent $47 at Save-a-Lot (cart FULL!) and $22 at Big Star, where they had ground beef for 79 cents/lb. I was able to get a pack of regular Cottonelle for free with my coupon and even a few school supplies, and should be stocked for 2 weeks. I also did a ground beef freezer session yesterday, and will probably go and get some more today while it’s still on sale.

DH had surgery on his hand last Tuesday.

He had general anesthesia, and he has really had a hard time getting over this. Has anyone had any similar experiences? He feels lethargic, alternately nauseous and ravenous, and just generally crappy, but not really bad enough to warrant going back to the doctor.

]]>Frugal tips and thoughtshttp://www.picoso.net/frugal-tips-and-thoughts.htm
Tue, 07 Mar 2017 12:49:18 +0000http://www.picoso.net/?p=32My name is Laura. DH and I have 2 sons, ages almost-9 and almost-5. We’d like to adopt a 3rd child sometime in 2001, too. And that requires lots of saving!

We live about 3 miles from downtown Atlanta. I’m a technical writer, and just started month 13 of a 24-month project. I would like to take lots of time off when this project is done, and am saving like crazy so we won’t miss my income. I was an active poster on the old CB list, and had to go no mail when things got very, very busy earlier this summer. Came back and it was gone – good thing I found you guys!

I really appreciate the encouragement I get from reading about other people who share my frugal outlook on life. Our culture is so stuff-oriented, and it’s hard to buck that trend. It’s also hard to raise kids to be frugal when their friends are walking around in shoes that cost more than my car payment!

My latest project is buying some nice 2nd hand furniture. We’re using the same stuff we had in our 20’s (early American Mom’s basement), and it’s time to upgrade. I went idea-shopping with a friend Saturday afternoon, and we hit a bunch of furniture places, just to see what’s out there. I’ve never shopped for new furniture, and boy is it expensive. No way I’m spending that kind of $$$!

As for frugal tips, here goes: 1) Never buy new if you can find the same thing used. Your money will go so much further because someone else paid retail first. 2) Never make a major purchase without sleeping on it first.

No impulse buying! The only exception is planned major purchases, where you’ve done your homework and allocated funds from your budget. Then, when you find a deal, grab it before someone else does! 3) Treat yourself to small indulgences so you won’t feel deprived.

I think #3 is especially true when time’s are hard. If your I’m-getting-out-of-debt-or-else budget is too restrictive, you won’t stick with it. Buy a new lipstick occasionally, go out to dinner, or whatever makes you feel pampered. Allocate a few bucks for fun money. It’s better to plan to spend $10 or $20 than to feel angry and deprived and charge $200.

]]>I consider myself a sahmhttp://www.picoso.net/i-consider-myself-a-sahm.htm
Mon, 27 Feb 2017 08:36:31 +0000http://www.picoso.net/?p=20I consider myself a sahm, but have always done something from home. Now that the kids are in 2nd and 3rd grade this fall, I’ll have a full day to work with. I still need to be available for the kids’ sick days/ holidays and even for myself because I can get easily wiped out. (I’m a cancer survivor) I teach music lessons in my home studio, but have to cut back on the hours this year. We still have times when we need extra cash and fortunately MtpLoans can help with bad credit installment loans. Used them several times already. Also, my husband’s hours may differ, and I need to be accessible for homework.

1/2 cup vinegar, light sprinkle of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent, even in cold water the wash looks great and smells good. No more fabric softner liquid or sheets.

vinegar kills the weeds growing in the driveway cracks, along the curb, and behind the garage

fill large spray bottle with water almost to the top – add 3 – 4 squirts of hand dish-washing soap. I keep by the sink when I need to only wash a few dishes from breakfast or lunch instead of dragging out the dishpan.

I cut my “Brillo or SOS” type pads in 4 pieces – that way I can throw it out after each dish-washing session – no mess to deal with and going through a box in 7 weeks instead of 2.

Shaking baking soda and vinegar in the toilet bowl worked wonder for cleaning – also can be used for unclogging drains once a week. I should mention I do use the drop -ins once a month in the tank so this does help keep down cleaning time. Also tried 1/2 cup salt down the drain – seemed to help improve my slightly clogged drain.

Shaking baking soda in the carpeting before sweeping is a lot cheaper and doesn’t leave the artificial smell that can make some people or animals sick.

My husband looked at me strangely with this last savings tip: cut napkins in half. The kids usually grabbed them for Kleenex as well. Again, not huge savings but over a year it could equal a fast food meal out or a new pair of jeans.

I am able to find a gallon of generic vinegar for 1.27, box of baking soda for 39 cents, and rubbing alcohol for 33 cents on sale. Better for the environment, pocketbook, and time because I can skip that aisle in the grocery store/Walmart entirely.

I have been dealing with a personal situation the past few weeks so I didn’t devote as much time as I should to getting the blog running well.

I am in the process of ensuring the following:

-A techie moderator to make sure we have great settings and who can tell us when the problems are just net burps (Kyle are you still here?)

-a challenge coordinator to either assign or coordinate the vote for the monthly challenge

-daily instigators (still deciding whether this is appropriate and needed) to get discussion going on the topic of the month or a thought for that day.

Feedback on this would be highly appreciated on or off the list

]]>My frugal dayhttp://www.picoso.net/my-frugal-day.htm
Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:19:44 +0000http://www.picoso.net/?p=15well i went to my friends youngest 1st b-day party in PA and i came home with a huge bag of maternity clothes and a new baby swing (the nice drop in kind ).

then i went to JC penneys with my 10$ off 10$ purchase VIP coupon the had sent me in the mail that was only good tonight and i got a new belt for my Ds 12 for school and 2 pairs of booties/ socks To put away for the baby and only paid 1.41 for them all !!

– i am Alice -37 yo Mom of 4 soon to be 5 ( in February ) i have been a pretty good bargain hunter etc most of my life but have really been more frugal last 2-3 years- being frugal # 1 so i can be home with my kids as much as possible – basically in the last 2-3 years i stopped looking for new and improved frugal books that might have the “magic answer” in them and began implementing more of the things I learned from tightwad gazette and my own ideas- I am great at coming up with ideas but have just started really implementing them !! It really pays off too !!

we still have some debt but at least both cars are paid off thanks to DH’s bonus earlier this month that let me pay of the minivan!!

our debt is not so much CC’s as 2 credit line’s- that we used when we had to fix up the house (it was real fixer upper we did a lot ourselves as cheaply as possible but it still cost $$ ) and to cover bills etc when i was out of work on disability with the first three pregnancies – but we have not use them at all in three years and are paying them off slowly but surely!!

As previous posts may have shown i am in a quandary as to whether to not go back to work at all (i am a RN and work ~ 1 x a week right now ) after the baby is 6 months to a year or to go back maybe 2 x a month – to help get the debt paid off faster )

My kids attend a catholic school which the tuition runs about $350 a month for the ten months a year for the 3 kids in school – DS 12 will be in high-school in 2 years and the cost of high school also makes me very nervous- but we have not fully decided on that anyway – anyhow that is all about me in the shortened version LOL!!